MikePadgett.com

How green was their valley

— When the map of Belgium was first drawn in 1830, Beauraing was left out and it remained French until the oversight was fixed.”

When the map of Belgium was first drawn in 1830, the area around Beauraing was left out and it remained French until the oversight was fixed.

Even now, France looms large on the horizon: the nuclear power station just over the border at Chooz belches steam clouds from behind a thick line of trees that masks the Givet salient.

• Walking route: Wiesme – Neuville – Revogne – Pondrôme – Gozin – Wiesme (loop) detailed commentary
• Distance: 22km
• Original route by Papylou

With about two thirds of the distance completed and having reached a point above Martouzin, one can actually visualise a considerable portion of the route. On the right can be seen a section already walked earlier in the day, whilst on the left is the path still to follow.

Detailed commentary

Larger map of this route

Leave the parking area heading east on the Rue de Houyet and when the road bends away, go straight on the track steadily uphill and into the Bois du Roi. Ignore the first fork to the left and continue straight, following the track soon after (also a GR – red/white stripe markings) when it forks to the right.

Follow this track straight – it could be quite boggy – descending through thick firs as far as a crossroads of wide trails. Turn right until the next junction at the corner of a wide track, at which turn left and follow this track straight out of the woodland. Take a left at the concrete road that follows soon after.

The concrete road runs for about 800m before reaching a junction with another road. Turn right and pass greenhouses on the left. Carefully cross the main road (N911) and walk straight on a quiet road into Neuville. The road climbs to the right through the village, passing a chapel before reaching a crossroads. Cross over straight onto the Rue de la Source, which turns soon after into a track as the way gets steeper.

When the path bends to the right, take the narrower path that goes straight on a very steep incline. Climb this path and follow it straight out of the woods to a t-junction on the plateau. Turn left here on a wide track and follow this track straight for over a kilometre as it skirts the edge of the woodland and eventually bends to the left and becomes a paved road. Continue downhill as far as a crossroads. Cross over and turn right, staying on the grass verge next to the road and descending gently into Revogne. At the centre of village, go right onto the Rue de Mossiat.

Follow the road as it climbs gently out of the village and at the next crossroads, go straight over onto a stony track and downhill. At the next crossroads, go right and steadily uphill, following the track as it bends left and briefly into the woods before running along the edge. Eventually this track descends to a farmyard and the road, at which turn left (Rue de l’Esclaye). After the chapel, take the right fork and go left after crossing the railway bridge.

Follow this road until a narrow path emerges to the left: follow this gently downhill beside the graveyard of Pondrôme. On reaching the road, turn right and go uphill again. You can enter the Enclos Notre Dame on the left if you like and leave it via the left side of the chapel, or else continue straight on the road.

At the next crossroads, go straight towards the woodland. Just before the treeline, the road forks so take the right track and follow it straight uphill through the wood. As this track bends sharply to the left, a panoramic view of the valley floor can be seen, including portions of the route already walked and the route to come. Continue descending on the main track as it hairpins downhill, passing the old station house and under the railway line itself before continuing down to Martouzin.

At the first crossroads, go left on a long, straight road (Rue du Bois d’Uchy) as far as the first junction with a road going right. Follow this latter road to the right, at first downhill until it flattens out, eventually reaching Gozin and the main road. Carefully cross the main road and go right on the grass verge for about 100m, as far as the first left turn. Take this left turn and very shortly after, on reaching a t-junction, turn left onto a quiet road (Rue de la Briqueterie).

Follow this road as it goes gently uphill and then bends to the left. Soon after the bend, take a right turn towards the woodland. Follow this track straight as it climbs alongside the wood and crosses over the railway line, bending to the right and slightly uphill before crossing the railway line again. Continue on the track as it bends away from the railway bridge to the left and it arrives eventually back in Wiesme opposite the parking area.